Science and Technology Options Assessment
Encyclopedia
The Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) panel is a committee of members of the European Parliament
devoted to all issues related to technology assessment
and science assessment.
, responsible for technology assessment
. Its work is carried out in partnership with external experts, these can be research institutes, universities, laboratories, consultancies or individual researchers contracted to help prepare specific projects. STOA increasingly focuses upon round-table expert discussions, conferences and workshops with associated or consequent studies. Members of Parliament and invited experts from EU institutions, international institutions, universities, specialist institutes, academies and other sources of expertise worldwide can jointly participate in the analysis of current issues at these events.
The European Parliament
defines its position on these issues through reports prepared by its Committees. If Committees decide that it would be helpful to their policy making role to seek out expert, independent assessments of the various scientific or technological options in the policy sectors concerned, then they have STOA at their disposal: the Parliament's own Scientific and Technological Options Assessment unit.
Currently, the Chairman is Dr. Paul Rübig
of Austria.
STOA is member of the European Parliamentary Technology Assessment
(EPTA) network.
STOA receives advice from the European Technology Assessment Group (ETAG) since 2005.
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
devoted to all issues related to technology assessment
Technology assessment
Technology assessment Technology assessment Technology assessment (TA, German Tenteractive, and communicative process that aims to contribute to the formation of public and political opinion on societal aspects of science and technology.- General description :...
and science assessment.
Role
STOA is an official organ of the European ParliamentEuropean Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, responsible for technology assessment
Technology assessment
Technology assessment Technology assessment Technology assessment (TA, German Tenteractive, and communicative process that aims to contribute to the formation of public and political opinion on societal aspects of science and technology.- General description :...
. Its work is carried out in partnership with external experts, these can be research institutes, universities, laboratories, consultancies or individual researchers contracted to help prepare specific projects. STOA increasingly focuses upon round-table expert discussions, conferences and workshops with associated or consequent studies. Members of Parliament and invited experts from EU institutions, international institutions, universities, specialist institutes, academies and other sources of expertise worldwide can jointly participate in the analysis of current issues at these events.
The European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
defines its position on these issues through reports prepared by its Committees. If Committees decide that it would be helpful to their policy making role to seek out expert, independent assessments of the various scientific or technological options in the policy sectors concerned, then they have STOA at their disposal: the Parliament's own Scientific and Technological Options Assessment unit.
Organisation
The STOA Bureau runs the activities of STOA and prepares the Panel meetings. The STOA Panel is politically responsible for STOA's work. It is composed of MEPs nominated by Parliament's Committees. The STOA Panel in turn elects two members of the Bureau, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, and the third member is the Vice-President of the European Parliament responsible for STOA, Dr Silvana Koch-Mehrin. The Panel draws up an annual workplan, after receiving proposals from the various Committees. Projects must have a clear scientific and/or technological impact.Currently, the Chairman is Dr. Paul Rübig
Paul Rübig
Paul Rübig is an Austrian politician and Member of the European Parliament with the Austrian People's Party, Member of the Bureau of the European People's Party and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.He is a substitute for the Committee on Budgets, a...
of Austria.
STOA is member of the European Parliamentary Technology Assessment
European Parliamentary Technology Assessment
The European Parliamentary Technology Assessment is a network of technology assessment institutions specialising in advising parliamentary bodies in Europe.- Objectives :...
(EPTA) network.
STOA receives advice from the European Technology Assessment Group (ETAG) since 2005.